Born in Berlin of Jewish parents, Kurt Hahn studied in Oxford Berlin Heidelberg Freiburg Germany Germany Germany Scotland Outward Bound Schools , the Atlantic College in Wales United World Colleges , the Duke of Edinburgh Award and many other schools based on the same principles as Salem
Hahn's educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents, whom he believed to possess an innate decency and moral sense, but who were corrupted by society as they aged. He believed that education could prevent this corruption, if students were given opportunities for personal leadership and to see the results of their own actions. This is one reason for the focus on outdoor adventure in his philosophy. Kurt Hahn proposed that young people are exposed to six declines:
Hahn's educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents, whom he believed to possess an innate decency and moral sense, but who were corrupted by society as they aged. He believed that education could prevent this corruption, if students were given opportunities for personal leadership and to see the results of their own actions. This is one reason for the focus on outdoor adventure in his philosophy. Kurt Hahn proposed that young people are exposed to six declines:
1. Decline of Fitness due to modern methods of locomotion;
2. Decline of Initiative and
3. Decline of Memory and Imagination due to the confused restlessness of modern life;
4. Decline of Skill and Care due to the weakened tradition of craftsmanship;
5. Decline of Self-discipline due to the ever-present availability of stimulants and tranquilizers;
And worst of all:
To counter these social diseases, Hahn conceived a preventive cure called Erlebnistherapie (experience therapy) which offered listless and lawless adolescence the opportunity to discover healthy passions, like the zest for exploration and the love for art and music, that would absorb the child completely. Hahn's experiential education program consisted of four elements:(1) physical fitness - exercising the body and keeping free from cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs; (2) expedition - exploring the world by sea and land under difficult conditions, alone or in groups; (3) project work - planning and executing an enterprise in research, art, or construction; and, most important, and (4) social service - helping the injured, sick, old, and handicapped in hospitals, homes, and rescue services.
3 comments:
Wonderful subject, Mark! When Hahn left Germany after standing against Nazism publicly and being jailed, who was the pupil from a very good German family, to leave Salem and follow his Jewish headmaster to Gordonstoun?
One Philip Mountbatten, I recall.
Considering that Schule Schloss Salem belonged to the father of his brother-in-law, Prince Maximilian of Baden, and that some relatives joined the SS at the time, I often think of how this man who flourished to become Head Boy at Gordonstoun, and best cadet at Darmouth, has so fashionably remained silent when wronged and many times, maligned by the ignorant press.
When you consider when this was written, it is still appropriate, (probably even more so), now as it was then. Testament I think to his insight.
As far as I am aware he had no formal educational training or qualifications, but took what he considered the best out of various schooling methods and put them into his melting pot.
At Salem he had 7 laws.
1. Give the children opportunities for self-discovery.
2. Make the children meet with triumph and defeat.
3. Give the children the opportunity of self-effacement in the common cause.
4. Provide periods of silence
5. Train the imagination.
6. Make games important but not predominant.
7. Free the sons of the wealthy and powerful from the enervating sense of privilege.
Interestingly he based his school concept on military staff training colleges, but instead of training for warfare he trained for thought and understanding.
I was fortunate to have had a UWC education many years ago, and can't help feel that things would be a little different these days. Current health and safety bureaucracy and education trends in the UK, must be stifling his foresight. I am sure that young peoples overall "health" is compromised by it, being more and more isolated from being given the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions or indeed in some respects think for themselves.
Of course our educational path is now safe in the hands, and directed by those people who have, all the qualifications!.
great post Mark!
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